Updated 11.15
David Bowie has died after an 18-month battle with cancer, the singer's son has confirmed.
Duncan Jones wrote on Twitter: "Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all."
Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all. pic.twitter.com/Kh2fq3tf9m
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) January 11, 2016
Statements were posted on the star's official Facebook and Twitter accounts saying the star died on Sunday.
They read: "David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.
"While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief."
Bowie released his 29th album, called Blackstar, on Friday 8 January, to coincide with his 69th birthday.
The Starman singer was famously very private and there had been rumours about his health for years.
Irish connection
Irishman Gerry Leonard played guitar for Bowie on the Reality tour in 2003, he also acted as his Music Director.
He told Newstalk's Pat Kenny show that the artist was modest off-stage "putting on the drab" on a daily basis.
Leonard told Pat David Bowie liked to be out out of his comfort zone: "He was a fighter. That's the way he lived".
Bowie made a surprise comeback in 2013 when he suddenly released a new single on his 66th birthday with an album out just weeks later, his first for 10 years.
Bowie's ex-wife Angie Bowie is currently a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother. She has not yet been told of his death.
